Races: Online

At twenty-eight years old, Owen Liddell was one of the remarkable people under thirty that held a Class and Level far above those of people around his age—no, even much higher than even people older than him. It was a secret, a heavily guarded one, and even letting it slip once had paid its price in blood. He was used to hearing praises and acknowledgement, but if there was anything that had baffled him…

It was his new Student.

Han.

There were already secrets revolving around him, even his grandmother was surprised that her husband had allowed two young men to enroll late. But the Headmaster was too silent about it, unwilling to divulge anything else. And perhaps that only made it more interesting to have him.

This young man was already placed under his [ Observe ] skill prior before. It revealed three Classes, Peasant, Student and a blank. A Blank Class. No artifacts on his person, and no aptitude for magic to cloud things either—and it occupied his mind. But the young man continued to prove himself more and more.

Now the Peasant Class being low-leveled was fine, but only having that was the weird thing. But much more to have one hidden from his Skill. It slightly irritated him, or rather it piqued his interest—what kind of Class was that? And yet…

"Alright, our discussion from last time was about Heroes, Champions and Nobility Classes. This time we'll be discussing whether or not you're far below the usual Level appropriate for your age." he could gauge the expressions of the man and see it for himself. It also happened to be in his curriculum, so this much was fine.

He turned to the board and began to write on it, scribbling ages and numbers.

"At one's birth, one immediately receives a Class—the one reflecting your status. All those who are born in the Kingdom of Yegarian are to receive the Peasant Class as a default, it reflects the sovereignty of our current King Indrus Sargon." he paused and glanced over his shoulder.

Someone was raising his hand.

"What is it?"

"What about our Race? I can check my Class, but I can't actually see my uh… Race?"

A few snickers erupted from within the crowd, and yet there were also those who paid attention. He managed a smile, "We've already discussed that one's Race is also reflected by a Class, albeit it's not usually capable of being seen by those who have the ability to see Classes and we assume it to be. There are ancient records speaking of it, times when one needed to identify if there was another Race infiltrating during the Great War, but it was lost."

The young woman nodded and stayed silent.

Owen Liddell looked around, "Any other more questions? Most of you were taught how to level up your Class but not many have questioned it—seeing it as a part of one's life. Surely there must be some other questions?"

A few glances were exchanged, but not one spoke.

It was a little pitiful to understand that this was the current batch of Students in the Academy.

Compared to previous times where Students would raise their hands and ask questions to fully devour the information more, most were used to listening in silently. And yet there was someone he knew from the crowd who wasn't native, "Miss Lu Rei, I recall that you come from another Kingdom—Aste if I can recall?"

"Ah yes, Professor." she would reply with a nod and an awkward smile.

He sighed inwardly, tucking his arm over his chest. "That Kingdom isn't necessarily occupied by Humans but a mixture of Races—the Beast Races, if I can recall?"

"Yes! Although uh, to call them Beast Races is not enough to distinguish the different tribes, the Cat, Rabbit…" she trailed off slightly.

The reception in the room wasn't harsh, but it wasn't exactly lukewarm either. The Professor nodded, "I believe they have a different type of Ruling Class and that means you do not have the Peasant Class?"

"No, Professor." she didn't say anything further.

Perhaps that was to be expected.

"These are some occasions where one can also have no Class at birth. It's actually quite more common for one to earn their first Class at the age of six to seven years old, perhaps the latest would be ten years old."

It was the reason why Inherited Classes were more often envied, allowing them the opportunity to level even younger than usual.

He continued, "And as for the Levels, during the early years—it's common to have a steady increase of Levelling. When one is young, it's not strange for one to increase one level per year, perhaps even months if one is fortunate. But it does stagnate as one reaches a certain level. There's some slowing when one reaches their fifth, tenth, fifteenth and so on."

Somebody raised a hand.

He smiled slightly, looking at the person in the fourth row. "Alright, what is your question, Miss Ari?"

"Professor Liddell, I heard that one also usually receives a stronger Skill at those Levels?" the young Fighter asked.

"Indeed, it's usually referred to as peak Skills, and it indeed has been noted down by scholars in past centuries." he rubbed his chin, "Well, there are those who receive two Skills instead of one at that Level—it mostly depends on what exactly one needs. Your desires and needs shape the Skill that is provided to you by the World."

So far things were going well, and yet if he glanced covertly at the Student in front, Han was just paying attention. He also looked absorbed by the discussions, perhaps even more so than others who might have heard this from other sources. Did he not find himself disturbed that he was at a lower Level than his peers?

Or perhaps his Blank Class was higher than usual?

Professor Liddell didn't like using Skills on unsuspecting people—unless he was on a mission. But he used [ Observe ] again… and stopped for a second. The sudden onslaught of Levels rendered him speechless for a moment.

He coughed and cleared his throat; he forced himself to continue. "Now the examples I've given is when we're usually talking about what one can normally achieve—but those of you who are here are those looking to improve yourself from the norm. Levelling up faster is possible."

The Student Class was powerful in its way, supplementing other Classes growth rate unbeknownst to them. Although it wasn't obvious from first glance.

"Most of us have experienced taking multiple Classes, choosing them when necessary—perhaps your father was a Shoemaker and you learned under the trade. You were fond of sewing and accepted a Class to do it much faster, your Levels are somewhat scattered around. But once you've found the Class that you wish to pursue, mostly what you desire for your Profession, then it is where most of your energy is redirected to."

And thus the fewer one's Classes, the more prestigious one tended to be.

Sir Leon de Harrington in front had two. Lady Angelika Primrose had three Classes. Donovan had about six Classes, neglecting the Peasant one—the man stopped for a moment. Using his Skill far too much was a drain to his energy, but it confirmed things. "All the Guardsmen under the Watch in the City of Gloria have a prerequisite of having a total of at least 10 levels in a combat-related Class before gaining admission and here in the Academy, gaining entrance requires the same amount in your specific Class be it Mage or a combat one, although most get Fighter or Warrior."

No questions this time. It was a rather well-known thing.

Albeit, some looks were thrown in Han's direction. Everyone knew he was a special case, and perhaps they also questioned it—did this young man have a Sponsor? Did he have a higher Level than all of them and such?

The undercurrent in all of this discussion.

Perhaps not even of simply this discussion, it had even occupied those of the faculty. And yet the answer was right in front of Professor Liddell. No, the answer had already been evident before. His grandfather's avoidance about speaking of this was one thing…

And the other was the fact that he was an anomaly.

The last time he checked, this young man was catastrophically at Level 2 Peasant, Level 1 Student that didn't deserve to even enter the Academy at all, but he had a Blank Class, something that he was sure that nobody else could detect—but now he had over fourteen levels and two additional Classes.

It was an unprecedented growth, not much different from his own.

If he were to report it to the Headmaster then the old man would involve himself further.

This would baffle many and draw further attention if he were to reveal this information. But he already understood how the young man gained his levels. It was through adversity and hardship that tested and broke the wills of simple men, but brought forth heroes. It occurred during the Colossal Wyvern's attack.

Jeanne did not remember it, but he did. He could remember everything that occurred, and it was supplemented by the recording crystal he had kept in his boot. The only thing that was failed to be stolen by the Shadow Elf. He didn't speak of it at all, even when his grandmother had begged for answers—if the old man kept secrets, then he would also do the same.

But he would find his answers.

Was the young man in front of him friend or foe?